Encountering dogs while riding
I have always had a serious fear of dogs.
locals, phobias, and I am not using this in the technical sense, are very difficult to cure. The norm is that you need to spend a lot of time and effort to achieve modest results. You will likely never lose your fear, but you can certainly reduce it and become better at managing it. Regardless, it is definitely worth the time and effort. Increasing your control over it will help you achieve a better experience and one that can include dogs. After all, dogs are not going anywhere. Neither are bad dog owners. Your riding, hiking, walking, etc. will always include encounters.
I am sorry, but all the suggestions to try to get used to dogs, or like dogs, by trying to play with cute and cuddly dogs are nonsense. Phobias are at a completely higher order than that kind of thing. Dont go getting a therapist to become better at being with dogs. Do it to become better at holding yourself together in the presence of dogs. I realize that that is a little subtle, but it is also crucial to any possible success. The focus should be on you keeping your integrity/inner strength such that the presence of dogs does not quickly dismantle your self-control and overly impact your experience. The focus of your efforts should be squarely on you. While your fear is manifest by dogs, the solution will inevitably lie a level deeper than that. A good therapist will guide you through this. And again, it is absolutely worth it.
You do not owe anything to dogs or their owners. In a perfect world, owners would smarten up and keep their dogs off of others unless invited first.